Ukraine's Gvozdyk flattens Stevenson to win WBC title

Oleksandr Gvozdyk (pictured) knocked out Adonis Stevenson with 13 seconds remaining in the 11th round to capture the World Boxing Council light heavyweight championship in Quebec City, on December 1, 2018

Oleksandr Gvozdyk (pictured) knocked out Adonis Stevenson with 13 seconds remaining in the 11th round to capture the World Boxing Council light heavyweight championship in Quebec City, on December 1, 2018 (AFP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Montreal (AFP) - Oleksandr Gvozdyk knocked out Adonis Stevenson with 13 seconds remaining in the 11th round to capture the World Boxing Council light heavyweight championship in Quebec City on Saturday.

The unbeaten 31-year-old Gvozdyk unloaded a barrage of rights and lefts that sent the Canadian champion reeling. He then finished Stevenson off with a crushing right hand, leaving him leaning awkwardly against the corner ropes.

Gvozdyk claimed the belt in his first shot at a major title and he did it by making the trip to Canada to face Stevenson on his home soil.

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Gvozdyk, who won an Olympic bronze medal for Ukraine at the 2012 Games, improved to 16-0 with 13 knockouts.

Stevenson, 41, showed his age in the later rounds, looking tired and lacking power. He suffered just the second defeat of his career, dropping to 29-2-1 overall.

Stevenson blasted Gvozdyk with a solid right halfway through the 10th round at the Videotron Centre. But the Ukrainian answered moments later with a five-punch combination that helped set the stage for his devastating knockout in the 11th.